Crazy (Subway) Train

travelchina \ 2012-08-01

In the spirit of the Olympics, I have attempted to set a new record for "Longest Time Without Writing a Blog Post" – naw, just kidding. I'm just lazy. However, I have been using this time to "observe" (but don't tell my boss, I've been telling him I've been programming).

As a commuter I spend a lot of time on the subway. I've mastered its tricks, its trades, and its stock exchange. I can do the Sleep-Until-Your-Stop, the No-Holds-Stand, the Doze-Off-Standing, and the Read-A-Book-In-Someone-Else's-Hands. If there was a way to monetize these skills, I'd be rollin' in the dough. (and subsequently wouldn't have to ride the subway – you can see where I'm going with this.)

Independent of marketable skills, the Shanghai Metro has brought out my muse better than any Beatrice ever has. What I present to you below is my first work from what is likely to be part of my opus (in stores and Amazon soon!) comprised solely of unconnected ramblings written while sitting.

"Things I Think About While Thinking About Thinks on the Subway"

So while the topic was actually chosen while not on the subway, this is being written as you read (yes, I'm talking to you chinese man reading over my shoulder) on the subway. It's legit. Don't worry.

The first thing I think about, or at least thinking about now is: Jesus, that man is so obviously staring down that woman's shirt. Which means that I as a corollary I am also staring at them. Which depending on your angle means I am either oogling an old man or a woman. This is only going to end well for none of us...

I also think about how much I am sitting and yet have still lost weight. This is what happens when you live alone, I think - woah, distracted: according to the subway (this is where I get all of my news in China), something something Mitt Romney attack ad! The subtitles are hard to read so I'm forced to try reading the English to understand (I don't).

But yeah. Back to sitting and food. I am currently sitting on the subway for 25 stops. At 3 minutes per stop that's... at least like 10 minutes of sitting. Probably more. Why? For (liquid) food (whisky) with old classmates (actual classmates). I also try to think about things like "man, I should be doing things other than sleeping on the subway," but I usually fail at this by falling asleep in the middle of thinking. On the way home from work, however, I'm forced to stand. This forces me to either practice standing (easy), standing and sleeping (hard), or practice staring at people willing them to vacate their seat (hardest).

Completely unrelated: There is a man sitting across from me with a shirt that says "all of my heroes are western cowboys." I bet they are my friend, I bet they are.

And now for some pictures! Pictures are worth a thousand words, right? That means that I've written quite a bit. Phew. Hands are tired. Should probably rest 2 months next time.

A view from my house at night
Jing'an Temple
The temple by Yuyuan
My friend Huaipeng at hot pot
Where I live, on a blue sky day!
View from terrace at work
The damn cool office building
Financial district, as seen from the Bund
The Pearl Tower (though it reminds me of somethign else...)